Adeola George, the 41-year-old daughter of Nigerian actress Jumoke George, has returned from Mali four years after going missing.

In an earlier report, the veteran actress had during an interview on Talk to B show, cried out raised alarm over her missing daughter, homelessness and ill health.

She said, “Dear Nigerians, please pray for me.

“I have never ruined anyone’s life. I am tired, I can no longer bear it. I don’t have a home, I don’t have anything, and a child of mine is missing.

“My firstborn, Adeola, has been missing for the past four years. I have been sick since January 2nd. I have done several tests, and now I need to do tests on my brain and heart. It costs N400,000, and I don’t know where to get the money.”

However, giving an update about the incident, ‘Talk to B’ show host, Biola Bayo, announced that Adeola had been found in Mali.

Sharing the details of her video call with Adeola on Instagram, Biola Bayo said “I finally got to speak with Adeola and this is what she said. She hasn’t called her mom, but Mom is happy she’s alive.”

In a recent development, the chairperson, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, on Monday disclosed that Adeola, has returned to Nigeria.

According to her, the commission received Adeola from Mali, where she was trafficked.

She wrote, “Breaking! Adeola, daughter of popular actress Jumoke George, who cried out that she had not heard from her daughter in four years, is back home from Mali, where she was trafficked.”

A failed software update during Nigeria’s 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination has exposed significant vulnerabilities in the country’s digital examination infrastructure, affecting nearly 380,000 candidates and raising urgent questions about the reliability of the nation’s education technology systems.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, which administers the computer-based university entrance exam, rolled out ambitious technological upgrades for the 2025 UTME. These included source-based scoring and randomised questions designed to curb cheating.

However, a critical patch was not deployed to server clusters in Lagos and the South-East, leading to widespread scoring errors, incomplete uploads, and missing questions, according to a technical review obtained by The PUNCH.

The glitch impacted 157 testing centres, 65 in Lagos and 92 in the Southeast, where outdated servers failed to correctly process exam responses. Over 78 per cent of the affected candidates scored below the 200-point benchmark for university admission, sparking alarm among students, parents, and educators.

“Technology has a history of making it easier to cheat, rig, or tamper with exam systems,” Co-founder and CEO of Schoola Ltd., Abdullahi Muhammad, told our reporter, highlighting the vulnerabilities inherent in digital examination platforms.

The expert leads a startup supported by the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Programme, which aims to create a more inclusive and equitable learning environment in northern Nigeria.

His platform, curri-AI, helps teachers generate lesson notes quickly and efficiently.

Muhammad further argued that rigorous oversight of technical processes and thorough evaluation of outcomes could have detected the server update failure early, thereby protecting candidates and preserving trust in JAMB’s systems.

The problem first came to light on May 9, following the release of the UTME results. The Founder of Educare, Alex Onyia, observed unusual discrepancies in student performance through the Educare learning platform.

“There were schools where not a single student scored above 200. That had never happened before,” he remarked on X (formerly Twitter). Onyia later filed a formal petition with JAMB on behalf of affected students, asserting that the widespread inconsistencies could not be attributed to poor academic performance alone.

In response, JAMB commissioned an independent audit led by Educare. The investigation, headed by Engineer James Nnanyelugo, confirmed that the scoring errors were due to the failure to deploy the necessary software patch.

“The Lagos and South-East servers continued operating on outdated logic that could not interpret the newly shuffled question and answer structure,” Nnanyelugo explained.

The faulty patch caused the computer-based testing system to misread candidates’ answers during live exam sessions. The issue remained undetected until after the 17th exam session, by which time thousands of students had completed the test and received flawed results.

An edutech expert who doesn’t want his name in the media warned of deeper systemic problems, stating, “If every year some officials are performing some behind-the-scenes voodoo, then it affects the platform. Without transparency, these issues will keep recurring.”

The 2025 UTME, a critical computer-based test for university admissions, ran from April 24 to May 5. Official data shows that 206,610 candidates in Lagos and 173,387 in the South-East were impacted, totaling 379,997 students.

Alarmingly, over 78 per cent scored below 200 out of 400, the typical university admission benchmark, causing widespread panic among students, parents, and school administrators.

Facing mounting backlash, JAMB Registrar Prof Is-haq Oloyede publicly accepted responsibility, apologised, and announced a free retake of the exam for all affected candidates starting May 16. The rescheduled exams are planned to avoid conflicts with other national tests.

JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin defended the swift retake arrangement, explaining, “If they don’t take the exam now, it means we would have to wait until August, and the longer we delay, the more anxious the students become.”

He also assured that provisions would be made for students who miss the retake for valid reasons, with dedicated staff assigned to handle complaints.

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Musa Aliyu (SAN), has revealed that the anti-graft agency recently blocked the diversion of N1.6bn in public funds using technology-based interventions.

Aliyu, who did not disclose the ministry or government agency involved in the blocked N1.6bn, stated that the interception was recent, adding that it highlights the growing role of technology in Nigeria’s anti-corruption war.

The ICPC chairman maintained that corruption in the country cannot be fought without being smart.

A statement on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman, Demola Bakare, said Aliyu spoke during a courtesy visit by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Khalil Halilu.

“We cannot fight corruption without being smart. We know the increasing use of technology in committing corrupt acts, but we are also leveraging the same technology to fight back. Because of the deployment of technological tools, we were able to block N1.6bn that could have been stolen, “Aliyu was quoted as saying.

While noting that technology has increasingly become a double-edged sword—used to both perpetrate and combat corruption, the ICPC boss stressed the urgent need for strategic alliances.

He identified NASENI as a key potential partner, capable of developing custom tech solutions to enhance transparency and accountability in governance.

Aliyu proposed a Joint Innovation Task Team between the two agencies to identify priority areas of collaboration and ensure sustainable engagement.

He also called for cooperation in tracking public funds and monitoring procurement processes, which he said account for “78 per cent of corruption cases.”

Another key area of proposed collaboration is the development of a secure whistleblower platform to aid intelligence gathering and tip-offs.

“First, I would like us to collaborate in the tracking of public funds and procurement processes. Seventy to eighty per cent of corruption happens in the area of procurement. Second, we need to design a secure whistleblower platform, because we cannot fight corruption without access to information.,” Aliyu said.

He also pledged ICPC’s support to strengthen NASENI’s internal Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit, underscoring the commission’s willingness to back reforms that boost accountability across MDAs.

In response, NASENI CEO expressed optimism about the proposed partnership, assuring the ICPC of his agency’s readiness to provide technical expertise.

He emphasised the importance of digitalising internal processes to reduce risks such as document leakage and ensure greater operational efficiency.

“We are keen to extend our partnership to the ICPC. We would be happy to share our knowledge and experience in this area, “ he said.

There are indications that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar may have offered the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi a vice president role in a joint single-term ticket.

Reliable multiple sources involved in the coalition efforts, who requested anonymity due to a lack of authorisation to speak on the matter, told The PUNCH that the proposal was initially discussed during a meeting between Atiku and Obi early this year in the United Kingdom.

The insiders disclosed that Atiku has committed to serving a single four-year term, and Obi has agreed to be the former VP’s running mate.

However, the ex-Anambra state governor was said to be working to secure the backing of his core loyalists.

In the 2019 presidential election, Obi served as Atiku’s running mate under the Peoples Democratic Party, where they lost to former President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress.

On March 20, Atiku, Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and others in Abuja announced the formation of a coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.

The announcement sparked widespread debate about the prospects of opposition unity, with political stakeholders expressing varied opinions.

Nearly two months later, Nigerians are still waiting to hear from the political leaders, as both Atiku’s PDP and Obi’s LP remain mired in internal political crises.

A party chieftain privy to the political permutations told The PUNCH that Atiku and Obi have come to an agreement and are now in the process of consulting with their loyalists.

He said, “You know that by this time next year, by May 2026, almost all parties would have unveiled their presidential candidates for the 2027 elections. So, the coalition move is mindful of that.

“The leaders have all agreed that it’s only a coalition between Atiku, Obi, and others that can wrest power from Tinubu. So, they are crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s to finalise this.

“Atiku and Obi met earlier this year in the UK. That was where Atiku first mooted the idea of a coalition and urged Obi to be his running mate. Obi then asked for time to think it over and consult his loyalists.

“But recent developments show that Obi has accepted to be Atiku’s running mate, and Atiku has also agreed to serve a single four-year term and hand over to the former Anambra State governor. They have both agreed to sign a written agreement if necessary. Obi is trying to get the buy-in of his loyalists before this is formally announced.”

When questioned about the political platform they intended to use, given the crises in both the PDP and LP, another source revealed that they are considering the African Democratic Congress.

“The crisis in PDP and LP is frustrating. While they are both making efforts and waiting to see if the crisis can be resolved in favour of their camps, they are both looking at possible political parties to run on.

“The Social Democratic Party was part of the plans before now, but it seems the ruling APC has also infiltrated the party. So, they are tilting towards the ADC.  As a matter of fact, some of the loyalists have been meeting with the ADC leadership, and others have quietly joined the party. So, if things do not favour them in LP and PDP, they may join ADC.”

Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, said he could not speak on the agreement reached between the two opposition leaders.

Ibe, in an interview with The PUNCH, stated, “I know that His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi have been talking about the coalition. I cannot speak on the specific agreement they have reached.

“All I can tell you is that both of them are focused on ensuring that they build a viable coalition that will be robust enough to accommodate diverse Nigerians to unseat the clueless APC government in 2027.”

A loyalist of Obi and the National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Peter Ahmeh, declined to comment on the single four-year term agreement but clarified that the former Anambra State governor is working with others to resolve the crisis within the Labour Party.

In response to The PUNCH’s inquiry about whether an agreement has been finalised for Obi to be Atiku’s running mate, Ahmeh simply said, “No comment on this one, until I speak with my oga.”

He continued, “My position on this remains that, for us to defeat the APC, we must follow the rules of engagement so we don’t allow Tinubu to become the landlord in the southern part of Nigeria when we have somebody who can defeat him effortlessly.

“We are in the LP as we speak, and that is the option available to accommodate everyone because you cannot sleep in a hostile environment and expect to succeed.

“We know there were hostile conditions created to undermine Peter Obi, but he is still in the Labour Party and is committed to making sure we get the APC out of government in 2027.

“As for the LP, the Supreme Court has spoken, and Abure’s term has elapsed. So, they can’t put something on nothing and expect it to stand. LP will survive.”

When reached for comment on the question of Atiku-Obi joint ticket, the National Coordinator of the Obedient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, stated that no such matter is currently being considered.

“As far as I am concerned, after I met with him in Benin, there was nothing of this nature on the table. He has not shared with me any of this particular issue. Neither has he called nor talked to me about it. In fact, not too long ago, I just spoke with him.

“So, there is nothing, as far as I am concerned, to confirm that such a discussion is on the table at the moment.”

The ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, confirmed that discussions are ongoing with all stakeholders involved in the coalition efforts.

Nwosu stated that 21 former national chairmen of deregistered political parties are now part of the ADC, adding that the party would make a significant announcement before the end of the week.

When asked if Obi and Atiku had approached his party about their intention to switch to the ADC, the party chair dodged the question and simply said, “The ADC leadership has held conversations with all major stakeholders in the coalition drive and even people in government — that is, even people in the APC.

“And they are all committed to building a mega African political party. So, we have spoken with all critical stakeholders. So, the stakeholders are all working together on this.”

Continuing, he stated, “We are part of the move. We have been working to give Nigerians a democracy that will improve their lives from the beginning. And within the last 10 years, about 21 national parties that have been deregistered have joined us in ADC. So, they all identified with our party.

“Currently, we are involved in coalition talks with all critical stakeholders. And we are meeting frequently, and by the grace of God, before the end of this week, we will announce some of the recent developments to the entire world.

“The Nigeria project is not local. Nigeria is critical to Africa. And that is why ADC is determined to bring about good leadership to rescue Africa, not just Nigeria.”

Atiku, who was VP to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007, has been on the ballot for close to two decades seeking to lead Nigeria.

Against the backdrop of plans by Atiku to run on the same ticket with the former LP Presidential candidate, Odeyemi urged the ex-VP to take the back seat, saying his time has passed.

“The truth is that Atiku cannot get the Presidential ticket of the PDP in 2027,’’ he declared.

‘’I am not sure he will get the ticket from any serious political party. If he is already offering Peter Obi the vice presidential slot, it is possible he has already pencilled some names down for ministerial positions. How can you offer what you don’t have?

“Atiku is not Abraham Lincoln. He should rest because I don’t see how he will realise his selfish ambition. His desperation is what has left the PDP where it is today.”

A chieftain of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Anthony Sani, said there is nothing wrong with Atiku and Obi walking the same path again, having done so in the past.

“Such arrangement by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi would surprise no one, especially when regard is paid to the fact that the duo was on the same team in PDP in 2019, albeit the team did not prevail in the elections.

“Whether the arrangement would have more traction this time around is for time to tell, given the strengthening of the political alliance between North-West and South-West, both of which are number one and number two in number of registered voters.

 “What is more, the All Progressives Congress is making some significant inroads in the South-South. As I always say, all these are democracy in actions which should stun no one,” he observed.

A man said to be about 40 years has set his house on fire in Asa Umudim community of Osisioma LGA of Abia State, resulting in the death of one of his daughters.

Also, the wife of the suspect and two other children, are battling for survival in a hospital following the attack.

The suspect, whose identity has not been released by security agencies, was said to have doused his house with inflammable substance before igniting the compound, on the allegation that his wife was engaging in extra-marital affairs. 

The suspect was also said to have accused the wife of regularly picking phone calls of people he suspected to be her boyfriends.

While one of the daughters of the man died inside the razed house, doctors are battling to save the life of the wife and

the other children.

A community source told journalists that angry villagers were about lynching the suspect before the arrival of the Police who arrested the man.

The body of the daughter of the suspect who died in the attack has been deposited in a mortuary.

Responding to a message from DAILY POST, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO of Abia State Police Command, DSP Maureen Chinaka confirmed the incident.

“Yes, the oolice are aware. Investigation is ongoing”, the PPRO said.

Tension gripped Ikire, a town in Irewole local government area of Osun State, on Sunday following an attack on the convoy of popular Fuji musician, Alhaji Wasiu Alabi Pasuma.

The attack, which occurred in the afternoon, involved suspected hoodlums who reportedly stoned and shot at the vehicles in the convoy, including a black Hummer Jeep and a white Hilux truck.

Eyewitnesses at the scene said the vehicles sustained visible damage. 

However, it remains unclear whether any member of Pasuma’s team was injured during the incident.

A video that has since gone viral on social media shows a chaotic scene, with people screaming in the background and one voice lamenting in Pidgin English, “Kasala don burst for Ikire. They don attack us. They carry gun shoot us but God dey.”

Efforts by journalists to reach the Fuji musician or his management team for comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

Local residents expressed shock over the incident, which disrupted activities in the area and caused temporary panic among passers-by and business owners.

Pasuma was reportedly in the state for a performance, though the exact details of his visit have not been confirmed.

As at the time of this report, the Osun State Police Command has not released an official statement regarding the attack or whether arrests have been made

Troops of the 6 Division Nigerian Army, in collaboration with other security agencies, have arrested at least 38 suspected oil thieves, deactivated no fewer than 28 illegal refining sites, and recovered more than 700,000 litres of stolen petroleum products.

DAILY POST reports that the operations occurred in various states of the Niger Delta between May 12 and 18, 2025. This was contained in a statement by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Danjuma.

Danjuma said the operations resulted to the destruction of several locally made boats used for illegal bunkering activities. 

According to him, in Rivers State, troops carried out targeted operations around Okolomade, Orashi, and Ozochi Forests, where an illegal connection was found directly on a wellhead at Ozochi Forest.

He added that follow-up raids led to the discovery of over 200 sacks of illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil, AGO, 300,000 litres of stolen crude in cooking ovens, and an additional 300,000 litres of stolen AGO.

“Six cooking ovens of 100,000 litres capacity each, four reservoirs, six receivers, pumping machines, and generators were seized. Three suspects have been taken into custody in connection with these crimes,” he stated.

In the Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, a truck loaded with over 45,000 litres of stolen AGO was intercepted at Alode junction, based on credible intelligence.

The Division spokesman stated that additional raids at Obiafor Forest resulted in the arrest of five suspected oil thieves operating a new illegal bunkering site, alongside the seizure of a reservoir containing over 25,000 litres of stolen crude oil.

Danjuma reiterated that the troops also demobilised a wooden boat loaded with over 10,000 litres of stolen crude oil hidden in the creeks at the Olughighi area.

Operations along the Imo River led to the deactivation of seven illegal refining sites, with the seizure of 31 drum pots, 10 drum receivers, 38 sacks, and over 7,000 litres of stolen products.

According to him, a sting operation at Amahausa Community in Ahoada East LGA recovered over 50 sacks of illegally refined crude oil, estimated at 2,500 litres.

The Army, away from Rivers State, also deactivated illegal refining sites in Biseni, Yenagoa LGA, and Isonogbene Creek, Southern Ijaw LGA of Rivers State, recovering over 3,500 litres of stolen products in total.

It intercepted crude oil in Ughoton Creeks, Warri South LGA, dismantling three artisanal refineries, and arrested a truck driver at Wellhead 3 Olomoro Flow Station in Isoko South LGA.

In Akwa Ibom State, along Abak–Ikot Abasi road, the troops intercepted a mini-bus loaded with 1,170 litres of illegally refined AGO, arresting the driver, who is said to be assisting investigations.

The General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Major General Emmanuel Emekah, following the feat, hailed the troops for their operational successes and urged them to scale up the momentum as the operations progress.

He reassured that the welfare of the troops remained a top priority.

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A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Bode George, has said that those who cannot abide by the rules and regulations of the party would be thrown out.

George said this would be one of the key decisions of the National Executive Council, NEC, of the party when they meet later this month.

According to him, most politicians in the party were only interested in their personal gain and showed little or no interest in the wellbeing of the people. 

Speaking on Channels Television Sunday Politics, the elder statesman said the NEC of the main opposition party is now ready to take a decisive action which would see the PDP return to the party it used to be.

He said, “As politicians, is it only for their own personal gain that they are looking at, What about the impact?

“What is democracy? It’s all about the management of the resources of the land for the benefit of the people. That is not what they have done now.

“And I am hoping that by the 27th of this month we will meet in a closed door and tell ourselves some home truths.

“Those who cannot abide by the rules and regulations of the party, we can throw them out of the party.

“The NEC has the authority and the powers to do that. We should tell ourselves some serious home truths, and come back to the position as laid down by the founding fathers of our party.”

DAILY POST reports that the PDP, which was supposed to provide strong opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has done nothing but fight within themselves since after the 2023 general election.

Some members of the party have lamented the party’s inability to punish members even when they publicly declare that they are working for the ruling party while in the PDP.

Just a few days ago, a former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, said he would remain in the PDP and continue working for President Tinubu’s reelection in 2027

A chieftain of the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum, PANDEF, Anabs Sara-Igbe, has told the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, that he could call the suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara anything, adding that what the people of the state want is peace.

This is coming amid the recent remarks by Wike, referring to Fubara, as his boy. Wike’s remarks triggered reactions across the state, with many elders emphasizing that the priority for Rivers people is peace, regardless of political rhetoric.

DAILY POST reports that Wike, during a weekend interview, stated that he was not in conflict with Fubara but was instead targeting those who, according to him, were attempting to benefit undeservedly.

“That one is not a battle. He (Fubara) is my boy, he is my son. Why will I fight with him?” Wike remarked.

Reacting, Sara-Igbe stated they had a relationship that lasted over the years.

“He (Wike) may choose to address the Governor any way he likes. What Rivers people want is absolute peace. We are not interested in how he addresses the Governor. They are friends and have been working together for long,” the PANDEF chieftain said.

He further urged the people of Rivers State to unite in ensuring peace and facilitating Governor Fubara’s reinstatement.

Sara-Igbe said he was hopeful that Fubara would return to office before the expiration of the six-month emergency rule declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 18, 2025.

Speaking on the political tensions, the elder statesman explained that Wike’s criticism of Dr Abiye Sekibo, Rt. Hon Austin Opara, and Celestine Omehia, whom Wike accused of misleading Fubara, was not surprising since they are all from the same political family.

Wike had stated, “I’m only fighting against people who want to steal what they did not work for. When you don’t defeat them, they will think they are in charge.”

He added that those individuals were pushing Fubara in the wrong direction

Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres is currently leading the race for the European Golden Shoe this season.

Gyokeres leads with 39 goals and 58.5 points following the conclusion of the Portuguese top-flight league.

Behind Gyokeres is Real Madrid attacker Kylian Mbappe as the season will later this month.

Mbappe’s goal against Sevilla on Sunday, raised his La Liga tally to 29, moving into second place in the Golden Boot race with 58 points.

The France captain will have one final opportunity to find score and potentially overtake Gyokeres to win the Golden Boot this season when Real Madrid will host Real Sociedad next Saturday in their final La Liga fixture.

Here are the top 10 contenders for the Golden Boot race:

Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting Lisbon): 39 goals, 58.5 points.

Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid): 29 goals, 58 points

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool): 28 goals, 56 points.

Harry Kane (Bayern Munich): 26 goals, 52 points.

Robert Lewandowski (FC Barcelona): 25 goals, 50 points.

Mateo Retegui (Atalanta): 25 goals, 50 points.

Alexander Isak (Newcastle United): 23 goals, 46 points.

Mika Biereth (Sturm Graz & AS Monaco): 24 goals, 42.5 points.

Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain FC): 21 goals, 42 points.

Erling Haaland (Manchester City): 21 goals, 42 points.

Meanwhile, Gyokeres has outscored Mbappe by 10 goals, but the Portuguese league uses a coefficient of 1.5 per goal in the Golden Boot formula, while La Liga and the other four top European leagues (EPL, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1) use a coefficient of 2.0